Animated display device



G. F. GOEHRING ANIMATED DISPLAY DEVICE Oct. 29, 1957 3 Sheets-Shree*I 1 Filed Jan. 18, 1956 wm fw G. F. GoEHRlNG 2,810,975

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR G-G'Ge ring Oct. 29, 1957 ANIMATED DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Jan. 1s, 195e Oct. 29, 1957 G. F. GOEHRING 2,810,975

ANIMATED DISPLAY DEVICE Filed Jan. 18, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 l 4/40-:Ir' 4, Yso 56 7 v 36a l l 3 37 42 Q 6' I 4 9 :Y: 321 34' 4134. 4Z

3f V 4/ 3S-F//////////////////// INVENTOR United tates ANMA'EED DESPLAY DEVICE George F. Goehring, West Newton, Pa. Application Eanuary 18, 1956, Serial No. 559,837 1 Ciaim. (Cl. 4th-126) This invention relates to a novel animated display device which readily adapts itself for use with a display beneath a Christmas tree or as an advertising display in connection with a show window or counter of a store.

More particularly, it is an aim of the present invention to provide a a plurality of power take-off means driven from said power source for simultaneously driving a plurality of objects having different types of movements whereby said objects will execute movements very realistically simulating actual movements of parts of which said objects of the device constitute simulations.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a display device having a novel coordinated drive driven from a common power source for producing a coordinated movement of animated objects, constituting parts of the display device, and wherein the different animated objects have different forms of movement.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter become more fully apparent from the following description of the drawings, illustrating presently preferred embodiments thereof, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of the display device, partly broken away and partly in section;

Figure 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view thereof, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 2 2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the lines 3 3 of Figures l and 4;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view, taken substantially along a piane as indicated by the line 5 5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 6 6 of Figure l;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed vertical sectional View, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 7 7 of Figure 2;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view on a reduced scale, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 8 8 of Figure 2;

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary detailed vertical sectional view taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 9 9 of Figure l;

Figure l0 is a fragmentary plan view of a slightly modified form of the simulated lawn mower, and

Y Figure 1l is a vertical sectional view thereof, taken substantially along a plane as indicated by the line 11 11 of Figure 10.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, and first with reference to Figures 1 to 9, the animated display device in its entirety and comprising the invention is designated generally 12 and includes a platform 13. The

display device including a power source and Patented Oct. 29, 1957 ice platform 13 is preferably colored to simulate a lawn and has a simulated fence 14 rising therefrom adjacent the marginal edges thereof. A simulated dwelling 15 of the ranch house type is supported on the platform 13 within the fence 14 and adjacent and along one edge of said platform. The simulated ranch house 15 includes a garage 16 and a simulated breezeway 17, as illustrated in Figure 2.

An elongated section 18 having rounded ends is cut 0 out of the platform 13 to provide an elongated endless slot 19 in said platform, between the main body thereof and said section 18. The section 18 and slot 19 are preferably disposed in front of the dwelling 15 and substantially parallel thereto, as seen in Figure 1.

Said section 18 is supported inmovably in the platform 13 and substantially coplanar therewith by rigid supporting members 20 which are secured to the underside of the section 18 and platform 13 and which are disposed crosswise of said section 18. Said supporting members 2t) have downwardly offset portions 21 disposed beneath the slot 19. A small power source such as a low speed electric motor 22 is disposed beneath one end of the section 18 and is supported by means of a pair of brackets 23 having outer ends which are secured to the underside of the platform 13 and downwardly offset inner ends 24 to which the casing of the motor 22 is secured. The motor 22 has an upwardly extending drive shaft 25 to which is fixed a sprocket wheel 25 which is disposed beneath an end of the section 18. The shaft 25 is disposed axially with respect to the adjacent arcuate end portion of the slot 19. A journal member 27 is fixed to and extends downwardly from said section 18, adjacent its opposite end and is disposed axially with respect to the other arcuate end of the slot 19. An idler sprocket wheel 28 is journalled on said member 27 and is supported thereby beneath and substantially parallel to the platform 13 and section 18 and substantially coplanar with the drive sprocket wheel 26. An endless chain 29 is trained around the sprocket wheels 26 and 28 and travels beneath the marginal edge of the section 18.

A simulated motor or power-driven lawn mower 30 is disposed to run on the platform 13 and section 18 on front and rear wheels thereof, which engage and run on the parts 13 and 18. A rear axle 31 is journalled in side portions of the frame 32 of the lawn mower 30. The rear wheels 33, or at least one of said rear wheels, are fixed to the axle 31 so that said axle is revolved by the rear wheel or wheels 33 when the lawn mower 30 is moving translationally due to traction engagement of the wheel or wheels 33 with the upper surface of the platform 13 and/or section 18. rlhe intermediate portion of the axle 31 is provided with a pair of cranks 34 and 35. Complementary ends of a pair of connecting rods 36 and 37 are journalled on the cranks 34 and 35, respectively. A rigid member 38, simulating a lawn mower handle is rigidly fixed to the upper rear portion of the lawn mower frame 32 and extends upwardly and rearwardly therefrom. A human simulating Figure 39, which may be constructed to simulate a man, includes a rigid body 40 having arms 41 rigidly connected thereto and extending forwardly therefrom, having rigid simulated hand portions 41a which are rigidly connected to the other upper rear end of the handle member 38, for supporting the Figure 39 behind the lawn mower 30 and above the platform 13 and section 18. The legs 42 and 43 of the figure 39 are pivoted to swing forwardly and rearwardly relative to the body 4i) about a pivot pin 44 which extends transversely through the upper portions of said legs and through a lower portion of the body 40. As best seen in Figure 3, the body 40 is hollow and is open at its bottom to afford ample clearance for swinging movement of the legs 42 and 43. The figure 39 is supported by the handle'n'iember 3sat anl elevation so that'th'eundersdes of the simulated feet 42a and-43a will just clear the upper surface of the platform 13 and section 18. The rear Y portion' of 't-he mower frame 32 is. provided ain opening 45Vthroug'h'which the V'Connecting rods`f36'andf37, loosely extend. rearwardly fi'o'rn the cranks VE'JilfardtS'S.A Said'l connecting rods extend upwardly and'i'earwardly ndha've their opposite rear ends connectedby pivotl-elements 36a and'37 to the .legs42}and 43, belowbutnear the leg pivot 44. A' pin or rigid velement 46 is fixed toet-'the mower frame -32H and, extends downwardly'V therefrom loosely through thetslotf 19.v YA lowerportiol ofthe pin or rigid elementv 46 is .securedftofthe'outersideoflone linle ofthe'chain29'. n n I' The idler sprocket,wheelf28sY isfprovidedrwith' a plurality, preferably four, pins or studs47 which are fixed totandr extend downwardly therefrom. The studs 47- are equallyspa-cedlfrorn .the aXisvofvthef-sprocket wheel 28fand arerequally spaced lfrom one yanother, asYbest-seenirrl-T-igv ure 8;- A- bellcrank- 48 isjournalledV at its apexon a fasteningl 491whichis fixedV to'-and extends downwardly` vfrom apart of-the platform ll-andbyA means of which the bell crank 48-is swingably disposed-beneath-and substantially paralleltosaid platform;v The bell crankx48`in-V cludes the arms 570 and 51; which; extend :from th'e5pivot 49,- susbtantially atv aY right.: angle toV onefanother. The longerarm SAG'eXtends substantially. crosswise -ofztheplat-l frrrr'13fa'ndV has;anv end 'portion'thereof disposed'fben'eath ani endzof the: section V18'and beneath a portionof; thel sprocket wheel 28 and chain 29 to be engaged by the apins orstuds 47` ofisaidsprocketwheelfZS; One end of alpull springfSZ istanchored to the underside oftheplatform 413 andtheother endof saidlpullspringfisconnected to'fa'n intermediate portion .ofi the hell 'crainle arm- 50 for-"2 urging sai'dbellcrank 48 to swing/clockwise asfseen inligure` lA about its-pivot 49 andi-for urgingfthe? outer portion offs/aidy ann 50 toward'andfinto-engagement withl the pirisl or studsll?.

A- simulated v glider 153', on -whicliissupportedV a: figure- 54,- is'dispose`d 1in the breezeway- 17landis Vsupported-on aportion=oflthe`platform13% The `'figure 54 simulates a lady disposed'in a'fsea'tedposition;onN theglider. The

gli-derSSlis shown in endelevation'inFigure 5 with the,

Y figure Svorrritted. `Said glider-includes" ri'gidend-lsup'- ports -wlichY-a`re iixedrto and'rise from the platforn'r-IE:vr

and each of 'which isf providedfwit'h a pairA of swin'gably mounted dependingliangers 56; the'lowerI ends@ of Vwhich are Ipivotallyconnected tothe-endsroffthe hody'S/ ofthe glider 53lto permit the glider body 57" to swingto'the right and leftj as'se'en Viti-Figure 5L or; forwardly and rear-V wardly'as seen inFigure's-f-l and 2'. Arigid harfS-Siisir'ed and extendsY downwardly from a'po'rtion ofthe underside of thetfglider" body `5:'7 through an elongated; slot n59 f in ment ofztheibar'SSwiththe glidergbodyY 57;l Theother' shorter bell crank4V arm 51? extendsV generally-lengthwise of thez platform 13' andhas-a free endithereofwhichextends loosely through'an opening which is formediirtheb'ar 58 andldisposedibelw Y the platform "13.

TheA platform- 13* is provided with supporting Brackets 61y which are -securedto Aitsundersideeanzd whichliaveup-V wardlyfllsetouter ends-62 which extend' outwardly^from theV side?edgesiandJV ends oft saidplatform and which 5 are disposed substantially inthesameplane as thetop'surface-off theplatform'lS; Whentheanimated display devie-1-2is utilizedfinconnection with a Christmas tree platform; for example, a)lioleoffa=propersize is cut inuhe conventional Christmasatree' platform, noti-showni to receive the' plaftorrt 13' which isvsupportedherein' h3/fthe ltraicket*J portions 62" restingjlon'. the upp'el'fsurface:Y of the- Christmas treeipltform, aroundthe .openingv thereof in` v Whiclitheplatformliis disposed. Ifj'the displaydevice lis'utiliz'd'as a show window orv counterdisplay, the' portion espacedf fr'om1 the platform' 13is providedwith' a depending` surrounding apron or wall 63 which extends downwardly from the edges thereof a suiiicient distance to support the display device 12 with the parts disposed below the platform 13 located above the level of a supporting surface on which the bottom edge of the wall or apron 63 rests. Where the wall or apron 63 is :utilized the brackets 61 may be omitted or vice versa;-

Assuminglthat the display device 12- isset up for use in either way as'heretoforedescribed, and that the electric motor 22 is connected Vto a source of electriccurrent, when said'motcr'is"'e`r1e'r"gi2edv theV shaft' 25 thereof will drive the sprocket -Wheel 26 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 1 so that the chain 29 and sprocket Wheel 2S will likewise move counterclockwise. Thus, the mower 30 and gure 39 will move about an elongated oval path Y traveling: in a counterclockwise direction, from-rightito left as'see'rii Figure ,1 toward the leftha'nd end ofthe platform)sections` 18'. Iii' this manner; the lawn'mower 3l) andthe'igire'39'will travel 'i'n an ovalJ path infront of the house 1`54ve`ry` realistically simulating thej movement of apower rn'tlwverV driven by a'manf'or cutting a lawn. It will 'be understood )that the 'mower 30V will travel in unisonlw'ifh Ythe chain 2'9'w'ith the pin.46 whichconnects sai'd. mower tothe chain'29t'raveling in. thelslot'1v9.f Asthe'rhowerlll'is thus propelled the rear wheels'33will be revolved' hy contact with the platform 13-.an`d section 1SV to cause tlieaileA 31 and its cranks 34an'd35 tore- Volve. Reciprocating movement of the Vconnecting .rods Y 36a`nd' 37 `i`n.oppfo'si'tej directions will cause thelegs 42 an'dfl43 ofjtheiig'r' 39,"to`b`e" oscillatedin'opposite d.i'. rectionsts'oth'afas"oneleg is swingingfor'wardly the other leg'.willbelswigingfrearwadly, tojths very realistically simulate the nio' ien'tofthe legsY of ia'. person'while walki ng As. previislysttedggure 39 is supportedb'y the handle 138, with the feet 422i and 43aV above'andjust out of lconta'ct withA the"platfornj 1'3` andseetion'ls.'

At the Sametime' thtthisjmovenientof the lawn mower 30 and figure 9'isl'dc`ciiiiig, theV 'glider'bodyS support# ingothe'gure S'efwllV befswihgin'gffo'rwardly and rearwardly to very realistie'allysimulatefthe actual movement: of aglider; or swing,A Motion is imparted tothe glider body 57Vfrom the',powersourceZZb'y the b'ell` crank 48. As the idler sprocket'wheelZS is drivenl counterclock` wise as seen in Figure lV by the chain 29fr`o'm itsposition of Figure L the'std 47'l'ocated`at the upper righthahd corner of the square formed hy thefour studswill move' out of contact with the lever arm 50mi/bile` theY nextY following stud, which is shownvin contact'with'the lever arm 50'lan`d'in a lower' right hand corner position, willi swing counterclockwise andrin its arcuatertravel'tolthe' Y rightifromits position as'shownv to a position lin alignment with the shafts 25' and 27,A will cause the leve'rarhi' 50 to besswungtto the right as seen in Figure'il. There fieras nie smdttr'avels through anOthe'rYare'rofjftS'to the upperv righthand'co'r'ner position as seeniriFigurejl, the yspringiSZ willrreturn the vlever arm 5G to 'it'sposition of Figure l' hya clockwise swingingmovement vof'fthe lever arm. @hviously, Vthe otherj lever Varirl 51 willbe' oscillated in unison with the' lever arniS' about the' pivot 49 andhisoscillatingmoyemem.of the" lreyeieangrrV 51' will he mpa'rtedjto the bar 58" and fthe glider body 57 so that the gliderrbody'57will"swii1g"oniitshangers forwardlyn and rearwardly, back and forth right and left'V as' seenin'Fi'gure 5. Thus,Y operation ofthepoweresoure'e* 22 will simultaneously*produce animationl of the lawir` mower 30 and"gure"39 andyin combination withthe spring 52, will` also'animatethe'-glider 53. The motor? shaft 25'and'the" gears-26nd 28'are preferably@driven at'a speed of approximately '8;R. P; M. hy'the'm'otorn? to cause the animated parts oftherdevice 121mbeoperated'` at speedswhich' will appear normalfor the'objectssiru-- lat'cd`therehy. A Y Y Figures 10' and ll illustrate another formof lawn'f r mower,V designated generally 64, only apart Vof which has been shown and which may be utilized in lieu of the lawn mower 30. The lawn mower 64 simulates a conventional hand mower and includes a pair of side members 65 which are rigidly connected in spaced apart parallel relation to one another by a cross member 66. The parts 65 and 66 constitute the lawn mower frame. An axle 67 is journalled in the side members 65 and has wheels 73 connected thereto and which engage the platform 13 and section 18. At least one wheel 73 is fixed to the axle 67 which is thus driven in the same manner as the axle 31. Axle 67 has cranks 68 and 69 which function in the same manner and for the same purpose as the cranks 34 and 35 to drive connecting rods, not shown, which function for the same purpose as the connecting rods 36 and 37. A handle, not shown, is xed to the side members 65 to function in the same manner as the handle 38 for supporting a figure, not shown. A rigid pin or connecting element 70 is xed to and extends downwardly from the cross member 66 loosely through the slot 19 and has its lower end fixed to the outer side of a link of the chain 29, for the same purpose as the connecting element 46. Rollers 71 are journalled on an axle 72, which extends through the rear ends of the frame members 65, and engage the platform 13 and section 18, rearwardly of the wheels 73, to cooperate therewith to prevent rocking movement of the lawn mower.

Various other modifications and changes are contemplated and may obviously be resorted to, without departing from the function or scope of the invention as hereinafter dened by the appended claim.

I claim as my invention:

An animated display device comprising a platform, a power source, means supporting the power source beneath the platform, a driving sprocket wheel disposed beneath the platform and directly connected to and supported and driven by the power source, an idler sprocket wheel, means rotatably mounting the idler sprocket wheel beneath the platform and spaced from the driving sprocket wheel, an object supported for movement on the platform, an endless chain trained over said sprocket wheels and driven by the driving sprocket wheel, and means forming a connection between the object and a part of the chain for propelling the object on the platform in a path corresponding to the path of movement of said chain when the power source is actuated; the improvement which comprises a second object, means supported by the platform and supporting the second object for oscillating movement above the platform and at a point spaced from the path of travel of the trst mentioned object, and means forming a driving connection between said idler sprocket wheel and said second object whereby the second object will be oscillated when the idler sprocket wheel is driven by the chain, said means forming the driving connection between the second object and the idler sprocket wheel comprising a plurality of studs fixed to and projecting from the plane of the idler sprocket wheel and disposed in spaced apart relation to one another and to the axis of the idler sprocket wheel, a bell crank swingably supported by the platform having one end loosely connected to a part of Said second object and an opposite end disposed to be engaged by said studs when the idler sprocket wheel is revolved for swinging the bell crank in one direction, and spring means connected to the bell crank and .platform for swinging the bell crank in the opposite direction.

References Cited in the ile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 673,587 Steward May 7, 1901 1,359,809 Karg Nov. 23, 1920 1,802,884 Diedrichs Apr. 28, 1931 2,240,439 Fisher Apr. 29, 1941 2,265,710 Wooten Dec. 9, 1941 2,641,867 McEntyre et al. June 16, 1953 2,645,880 Richter Iuly 2l, 1953 

